There have obviously been improbable results for Louisville Basketball through the years.

Either by the final result, or the manner of victory (or defeat), or the margin of said score at 00:00.

But, for the life of me, I simply at this juncture, about a half an hour after the buzzer, cannot remember one as beautifully dumbfounding and improbable as what happened this Day Before Thanksgiving 2024.

Louisville 89, #14 Indiana 61.

Louisville 89, #14 Indiana 61.

One more glance at the official box to make sure that is not a typo, that I am remembering correctly.

And one more repetition . . .

. . . because my fingers are so happy typing it out.

Louisville 89, #14 Indiana 61.

And the absolute truth, to use a well worn cliché, which absolutely is apropos, The Game Was Not Nearly That Close.

At 5:45 left, Kasean Pryor stole the ball, streaked down for a fast break slam, making the score 82-45.

+37.

 * * * * *

Game Ball to Pat Kelsey.

This man so totally outmatched his counterpart on the other bench, it was laughable. (At least after the fact, I was still nervous at 74-40 at the 7:58 stoppage, and wasn’t laughing about anything.)

The Cardinals defensive effort was intense, focused, well-planned, well-executed.

The Hoosiers committed 23 turnovers.

Some were unforced.

Most were not.

U of L had the Hoosiers discombobulated from the opening tip.

Chucky Hepburn stole the rock on IU’s opening possession. And scored. His first of 7 steals. His first deuce of 16 points. To go with 10 assists.

Plus essentially controlling the tempo of the whole affair.

OK, where was I?

Coach Kelsey, that’s it.

What struck me was how ready the Cardinals were. Their game was measured from the start. They ran their O, but at a moderated pace, so as to determine what would work and what wouldn’t.

The D was down near impeccable.

Everything worked.

U of L was up 8 at the half.

So, how did PK’s put together squad come out after intermission?

Gave up a deuce. Then . . .

. . . J’Vonne Hadley deuce. Stop. J’Vonne Hadley deuce. Stop. Kasean Pryor deuce. Stop. Noah Waterman triple. Stop. Pryor again on a dime from Chucky.

Time out by a beleaguered and bewildered Mike Woodson.

The 11 zip run pushed the Cardinals margin to 48-31.

U of L never faltered.

So, I’m trying to give props to Pat Kelsey, but I keep going off on tangents.

Frankly, I’m also still bewildered, but in the opposite of the Woodsonian manner.

This was a master class of planning, then execution.

Maturity.

 * * * * *

As the Professor always sayeth: You look good when you make your shots.

U of L was 37/65. That’s 57%.

10/27 from the foot of the resort’s water slide. 37%

5/7 at the line. 71%.

In a game as rough* as the 90s NBA, the Cardinals didn’t shoot a FT until there was 7:08 left in the tilt.

* The tourney’s sponsor is Bad Boy Mowers. Shoulda been Bad Boy Pistons of Dennis Rodman, Bill Laimbeer, Rick Mahorn, Isiah Thomas. 

 * * * * *

As of this posting, Louisville’s Turkey Day foe is yet to be determined.

If West Virginia pulls a Cardinals, it could be the Mountaineers.

Doubt it.

More than likely powerful Gonzaga. Who might very well provide a comeuppance for Louisville.

It. Will. Not. Matter.

This victory was one of consequence.

Louisville basketball needed something like this.

Louisville basketball got this.

 * * * * *

Two games of the U of L/ IU series have always been my faves.

The one that began the 84-85 campaign in Assembly Hall. An IU alum with great seats who couldn’t go gifted me his tickets. During the game, every time Milt Wagner touched the ball, a guy behind me would yell, “Put some mustard on that hot dog.”

After the Cards won 75-64, I turned, and without saying anything, handed the guy a packet of mustard from the concession area.

My other fave was a victory over Bobby Knight’s team at Freedom Hall around Christmas time.

I now have a clear and uncontested favorite U of L/ IU game.

November 27, 2024.

Louisville 89, #14 Indiana 61, in a blowout not nearly that close.

— c d kaplan